Top tips for creating the perfect CV

Nailing your curriculum vitae (CV) is an essential but tricky task. We’ve put together some top tips on CV writing to make things easier.

We’ll run through practical CV tips, explaining how to:

• Start strong with a great introduction
• Showcase your education and qualifications
• Detail your employment history and work experience
• Call out key experiences outside of work
• Perfect the presentation and length of your CV
• Tailor your CV to suit each role
• Check your spelling and grammar

At the top of your CV, you need to put your name and key contact details (ie. email address and phone number). Below this, it’s your chance to make a good first impression with a personal profile. Include a few short sentences outlining who you are and what motivates you. Use your introduction to show that you’re right for the job and highlight your best achievements and skills.

A good example is:

“I’m a creative and diligent History graduate from Durham who’s looking to put my research and writing skills into practice in the professional world. As sub-editor of the university paper, I’ve proven my fact-checking and proofreading skills which I’d use in this journal creation role.”

Need help crafting what to say? Learn how to write an outstanding personal profile for your graduate CV.

In the education section, summarise your education in reverse chronological order. So, start from the most recent and work backwards.

When it comes to uni, include where you studied, your degree title, your grade and the course start and end year. That’s the basics but share specific details if important. For example, call out the names of any modules that are relevant to the role you're interested in.

Once you’ve got a degree, you don’t need to list your A-Level and GCSE grades (or equivalent) in full. Instead, just say the number of GCSEs you achieved and the grades, ie. six As and three Bs or eight GCSEs at grades 1-5. Although you don’t need to list every subject, always say if your GCSE grades include English and Maths.

When you add your employment details, include the employment dates (ie. years but sometimes months), job titles and company names. Remember to list any relevant work experience here, too. You don’t have to have been employed to have learned valuable skills.

Use bullet points to outline your achievements and responsibilities relating to each role. Ideally, include examples that back up your claims. So, instead of saying “Lead a successful team”, you’d say “Lead a successful team, with those I managed selling 20% more than their colleagues in other teams” (if that were true).

Just like your education section, write your employment in reverse chronological order with your most recent (or current) job first. It’s OK to leave out irrelevant roles but don’t do this if it’ll create gaps in your employment history. Instead, keep less relevant jobs shorter and focus on the transferable skills you gained. It’s OK to group jobs too. So, a bullet point that says “Retail experience in bars and supermarkets over three years” will cover your part-time uni work if you need the page space to detail industry-specific experience.

You’re more than your academic and work history. So, give your potential employer the full picture.

Outline any experience you’ve got that makes you a good fit for the role you’re applying for. Perhaps you create content online. Or maybe you volunteer for a community group. It's great to add any examples of leadership too. So, if you’ve been the captain of a sports team or ran an event, mention it. Whatever it is, weave it in if it’ll help show why you’re the right person for the role.

Remember, your CV needs to show who you are, so pick out the most meaningful experiences you've had. Be sure to add skills you've gained such as languages or coding. If the role will involve travel, it’s a good idea to mention your driving licence too.

Concerned you don’t have enough to say? Read about the things to help you build your CV while at university.

Keep your CV one page in length. As a student or recent grad, it's unlikely that you’ll have enough content for two pages. So, if your CV is longer, think about what you’re saying. If anything sounds vague or isn’t relevant, cut it out.

To keep it snappy, use bullet points instead of sentences. Heavy sections of text are unattractive to recruiters. Hiring managers will glance at your CV before they decide whether to read it properly, so make sure it’s good looking, well-formatted and in a structure that’s easy to understand.

Want more concise CV tips? Read how to write a one page CV.

While the bones of your CV will be the same whatever job you’re applying for, it’s a good idea to tweak it for each role.

Remove any non-relevant experience or structure your CV so that more relevant information is nearer the top. So, if it’s your work experience rather than your degree subject that will impress the employer, make sure they see that first.

Of course, nobody makes a typo on purpose. But do everything to get rid of them before you send your CV.

Lots of job applicants neglect spelling and grammar, so a well-written CV will stand out.

Use spell checks to make sure your spelling and grammar are flawless before you submit any job application. If possible, ask a friend or family member to look too. They’ll spot things you can’t see.

Make a good first impression on employers by introducing yourself and listing all your relevant experience – in work, education and beyond. Keep things concise, specific to the role and error-free. If you do all that, you’ll improve your chances of securing an interview (and getting a job).

While creating the perfect CV seems daunting, taking on our CV-making tips will help you succeed. So, get writing and good luck!